:(

Week 7 Day 3

I got good sleep last night, no drinking at all and healthy good dinner. Got up at 5 this morning to do my run and....

it was still hard.

But that's okay. It was just hard...as a 25 minute run probably should be. I can't imagine adding another 3 minutes but that's what's up next. Today was satisfying though. It felt good to push through when I really wanted to just quit early. My hrm freaked out on the cool down. Was telling me hr was 180 -190. When I would reset it it would show more like 130 - 140 for a minute which was accurate. Needless to say, average hr is showing higher than it truly was, and I burned fewer calories than my stats will show. Crazy woman that I am, I finished up around 5:45ish, dried off, changed clothes, and went and did yoga for an hour. I'm still amazed by how hard yoga works my body. If anything, I think the run beforehand helped. I was super loose. And I felt free to have TWO breakfast tacos instead of one this morning...and inhaled them both.

Stats
Max hr: 192
Avg hr: 156 (prob should be 140ish)
Duration: 35:01
Distance: 2.46
Calories: 270 (prob more like 250ish)

Namaste. (whatever the heck that means. they always say that at the end of yoga and I've yet to look it up.)

Update: The Running Class

It was interesting. The first thing we did was a "warm up". And wow was I annoyed. The warm up was basically what I might do after I had warmed up. I was annoyed because I thought - how in the hell is this a beginner's class?? So, it didn't start well because I was super irritable about it and stayed cranky most of the time. Turns out we had run way too far. I ran with some girls that are definitely in a different place than I am with the running (leagues ahead) and I guess they thought she (trainer person, Chris) meant one thing when she actually meant another. So the next warm up won't be a mile + run with hills etc. After that we did drills. High knees, butt kicks, etc. That part was great. I like intervals - think they are effective etc., and that is what that felt like. She talked to me about my form - I am landing too much on my heel, I only swing one arm - which is weird, but true, and I had never noticed. Need to keep hips still and straight. So all that was great. I think it won't interefere with C25K at all.

I got a really good workout no doubt. Moved my weight training out to Wednesday because I need at least 24 hours of rest after yesterday and today.

I think running + yoga + once a week weight training is the ticket for me. Put on a skirt this morning and it's way too bigh - yay! I am going to wait awhile until I know the weight is stable and then go shopping...which normally I hate and avoid. I'm sure I won't love it now but it will be fun to need clothes because what I have is too big!

Week 7 Day 2

So you asked me if the 25 minute runs are hard and I said not really. Well, today was HARD. A lot of it has to do with me probably over exerting myself in a lot of ways this weekend. Did yoga twice, including earlier today. I actually ran a mile after yoga yesterday...not sure what got into me. Stayed out late last night, didn't eat right today. All this = painful run. I just kind of felt like I was going to be ill for the last 8 minutes or so. But I wasn't ill and I pushed through it. But it was definitely hard. Burned the most calories yet on this program.

Max hr: 184
Avg hr: 154
Duration: 37:02
Distance: 2.58
Calories: 292

My hrm never had issues, even during my cool down, which made me happy. I just cooled down normally.

Now I have a confession to make. I think I am about to start deviating from the plan. I am going to keep doing C25K every other day as I have been, but tomorrow morning I am meeting a group of beginning runners at 5:30 a.m. This woman is leading it - she is some major runner here in Austin, my age, mother of 4, sounds pretty cool. A friend of mine recruited me. I am going to check it out tomorrow and see if I want to sign up. It's twice a week I think and she tailors the program for you. It's $150 for 20 classes which is pretty good. I'll pass on anything I learn!

Lisa - loved seeing you on the forum! I really like that board a LOT. Good people and kind of cool that they are from all over the place.

Week 4 Complete

Well, I did it.  It wasn't quite as easy as Thursday, but it also wasn't as hard as Monday.  I was able to make it all the way through without stopping.  The first half was great.  The second half I started to get a little tired - more in my legs.  I'm glad Hazel is doing this with me.  She slows down the second half and that really helps me.  I can only go as fast as she goes.

When I left it was 21 degrees out and there was snow on the trail, but it was packed.  Actually, it was quite pleasant out.  It was not windy.  If it were, that might be another matter entirely.  I think I much prefer running in the cold, than the heat.  At least in the cold you can control your temperature.  I wasn't cold at all.  I wore the hat but not the gloves.  My hands were cold a little at the first but they warmed up.  

Hazel even wore her jacket.  And her dog boots.  Well, they aren't really boots.  We tried boots and they did not work.  These are basically rubber balloons that are made to go on a dog's feet.  Why bother?  Well, I don't like how it feels walking on snow and ice and I figured Hazel wouldn't either.  Also, this protects her dog paws from any salt that people have put out.  And finally, it keeps her paws from getting all wet and muddy.  I also thought it might help them stay slightly warmer.  She doesn't particularly appreciate her jacket and dog boots, but she consented to wear them.  Many people smiled at her on the trail.  

Time: 35.04

Distance: 2.4

Average HR: 152

Maximum HR: 181

Calories: 392

Yoga - holy crap

The last time I did yoga was to satisfy a PE requirement at Penn State. So, 18 years ago. Did a yoga class today. It was one of those where they keep the room really hot. For one, yoga is harder now than it was when I was 19, if you can believe that. (that's a joke) Secondly, I am fairly certain I have never, ever sweated as much as I did in that class. Holy cow. But I really liked it! I think I will try to add yoga to my various activities. Not too expensive and the class schedule makes me think I should be able to find ways to fit it in. We shall see. I'm going to wear my hrm next time - that was way more of a workout than I thought it would be!

W7D1 Done

Woke up at 1:30 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep so this was not at all something I wanted to do this morning. But it went okay. I ran the first five minutes a little bit slower than usual, and the last 5 minutes a little faster, and it helped to break up the run in chunks like that. My hrm never got it right after I started my cool down. I think my heart has trouble there - it has been doing really great during the runs but when I stop running I feel it. It went back and forth between 00 and 200+ for the entire last 5 minutes. Needless to say, affects the stats.

Max hr: 205
Avg hr: 146
Duration: 37:03
Distance: 2.58
Calories: 236

W4W3

I did it!

This time it wasn't a problem.  I didn't really feel like going today because I think I pulled a muscle in my upper back last night and it was bothering me today.  But it went okay.  I did run a little slower on the second 5 minute run (5.0 - 5.3) but I didn't have the trouble at the end like I did on Monday.  My calves were a little sore at the end, but I could have kept going.  Yay.

Time: 35.48

Distance: 2.4

Average HR: 154

Maximum HR: 187

Calories: 407

5K

I am going to do one February 21. A little early, but I've got other motivations for doing it. Namely, Allan really needs to do more cardio and this will get him going. So now I have a big goal! I just want to run the whole thing, even if it takes me an hour.

A Question

When is Lisa running again??

W6D3 - Sweat!

I just ran it. Sitting at desk SWEATING! 25 minutes without stopping.

Felt it in my legs and think I'll be sore tomorrow. Wanted to quit at various times but would just start playing mind games with myself -
You've run longer than this before. (somewhere past 10 miutes)
Okay, ten minutes left. You can run ten minutes. You did it two days ago.
Five minutes left. You're a huge pansy if you quit with only 5 minutes to go.
And so on and so forth.

After yesterday's cookie and mexican food fest, I needed this.

I'm annoyed at the hrm - I looked down at one point well into the run and and it was reading my hr as 55. :) So, my avg hr is falsely low and I probably burned a few more calories that these stats show.

Max hr: 187
Avg hr: 143
Duration: 37:57
Distance: 2.61
Calories: 269

Oh, and dropped my pace down a tenth of an mph after a couple of minutes. That isn't enough to really make a difference but I was struggling and it helped me mentally.

W4W2

Today I went to the gym and worked out on the machines.  I went really easy - I hardly even broke a sweat.  But since I haven't worked out in awhile, I didn't want to be too sore tomorrow.  I also walked 17 minutes when I was calibrating my foot pod.

That is all.

Walk

Well, I got up and walked this morning. I am definitely in a rut...just not wanting to DO this right now. Not gonna quit though. And I am actually kind of looking forward to the 25 minute run tomorrow. Just put the brain on auto pilot, cover the clock, and go. I know I can do it and I know I'll feel great when it's done.

In My Defense

This isn't an excuse, but I'm sure part of the reason I'm having trouble is because I'm running with 40lbs of extra weight that shouldn't be there.  I think it makes a big difference.  Or at least it looks that way on Biggest Loser when later on during competitions they make them strap back on their old weight and run with it.

W4W1

Well, I did it. Sort of. I had to stop 3/4th of the way through the second 5 minute run. I just couldn't. I had a cramp in my side and my calves were burning and it felt like forever until I was going to be over. But really, I quit somewhere between 90 -105 seconds from the end. I even prayed. feverently. I alternated between "please God" and the slightly more desperate "help God".

I did however redeem myself by picking back up and running the last 30 seconds of it. I was really tired. And hot. No more hat and mittens unless its less than 30 degrees out. It was 35 when I left. Also, no more three layers. I had to take the mittens off because my hands got so hot.

Check out how many calories I burned! Depending on how I feel, I will probably try to add a repeat run in on Sunday, since I didn't make it totally through the second 5 minute run. I really wish I had repeated Week 3 last week instead of sitting on my ass. Oh and the foot pad battery crapped out when I had 1/4 left to go so I have no idea about total distance or really speed.

Duration: 37.46

Calories: 460

Average HR: 160

Maximum HR: 193

Distance: 2.0+

W6D2 - That Pretty Much Blew

It's done. I did it. That's the good news. But dang...I did not want to run today. I didn't sleep last night, my workout with Lauren was really really hard, and my head was just not in the right place. But, I haven't been doing anything in between runs and definitely didn't want to go two full days with zero cardio, so I just forced myself to do it. It was two 10-minute intervals with a 3-minute walk in between. Nothing seemed right today - I don't like these shorts, I don't like this sports bra, my shins actually felt sore, my socks didn't feel right...ya know, one of THOSE days...whine whine whine. My heart rate stayed way up there which to me is good because I think - oh cool, burning a lot of calories.

But of course, now comes the satisfaction for having pushed through it anyway and I love that satisfaction! I think one thing I've learned this week is that I really need to do something on the non run days. I was walking. I think I'll go back to that. Somehow it makes the running easier.

So Lisa I need a post from you TODAY. Girl, even if you do W1D1 I'll cheer for you!

Need

I stalled out last week after the fail.  Can you tell me to get my ass going again?

W6D1...Kinda sucked

I had heard over and over on the C25K forum that W6D1 was really hard. It doesn't make sense. I just ran 20 minutes so why would a 5 min - 8 min- 5 min run be hard? But yes, it was hard. So note to Lisa, when you get here, be ready for it to be harder than you would think.

That said, about half way through the 8 minute run I found my groove and it was okay. On the last running interval I bumped my speed to 5 mph which is as fast as I've ever run, and I did fine. I'm glad I did that because it makes me feel like I progressed.

I took yesterday off entirely - which I don't do often. Didn't walk or anything. I think this was a good idea. I'll probably do another day off after the 25 minute run on Wednesday. Tomorrow may be a bike ride.

Didn't really want to run this morning but so glad I just got up and knocked it out so I can enjoy the rest of Saturday without that hanging over me!

Fail

I had to go to the gym today because it was so cold out.  Earlier it was zero degrees.  It did warm up to around 10, but I still thought it would be better to be inside.  Boy was I wrong.  That was miserable.  I have decided that I hate the treadmill.  Hate it!  

And I don't know if it was because of my mindset or the treadmill or what, but I couldn't complete the workout today.  I started out after the warmup with what I thought was a 5 minute run.  Half way through I wanted to kill myself.  It just took forever and my legs were sore and I really wanted to stop.  So I thought, okay, I will press on.  Then I realized that this first interval was only for 3 minutes.  I barely made it through despite the fact that I had no problem with 3 minute intervals last week.  I pressed on.  Then I got to the 5 minute run and I just couldn't make it through.  I tried.  At about the 3 minute mark I stopped.  

I probably could have completed it.  My HR wasn't that high.  The max was at 174 or so.  My legs were sore but they weren't that sore.  I attribute it to the treadmill.  It was just miserable running on it - at least for me.  The time was crawling, I was uncomfortable and I just didn't have the motivation to go on.

So like a little girl I pussed out.  I didn't even finish the time with walking.  I just stopped completely after about 13 minutes.  I will try again tomorrow.  First I'll try to do W4W1 and if I can't do that, I'll go back and repeat week 3 for the next few days.  I will definitely be running outside tomorrow.  Please let it warm up!

W5D3: The Run

I did it! Knocked out that 20 minute monster this morning! And it really wasn't monstrous at all. Felt it in my legs but pushed through. Had a lot of anxiety about it but...I did it! Ran at a nice slow pace - so covered about 1.5 miles during the 20 minutes. I'm pretty sure I've never run a mile without stopping much less a mile and a half.

Not much time to write this morning but did want to say....

I did it!